Death at the Wedding Feast

Twelve

He had promised Elizabeth that he would be away two weeks at the most, so felt that he would be rather overburdened with things to achieve in that short space of time. But such were Jacquetta’s powers of organization that the Apothecary almost felt de trop when he sat down with her on the first morning of his return and went through a long list of figures. It seemed that this new sparkling mineral water was proving an enormous success. Vaux Hall had ordered a large quantity, as had Ranelagh Gardens, though this last piece of marketing had been achieved at the hands of Nicholas Dawkins, the Gardens’ consultant apothecary. Mr Napthali Hart had ordered some for Marble Hall, which was to open in a month’s time, and meanwhile was keeping a supply in store for his student dancers and fencers in Essex Street. But Mrs Fortune wished for a consultation about the bottles and called a meeting for that evening when Gideon Purle could join their company. John felt that it was the least he could do to ask his apprentice to dine with them, and duly broached the subject on arrival in his shop.

Gideon stood behind the counter in his long apron looking so terrifically assured that the Apothecary’s heart sank. It would not be long now before the young man would apply to be made Free and the whole process would begin all over again.

‘My dear chap, how are you?’

‘I’ve never been better, Sir.’

John’s heart sank even further as he thought that he would have to waive the fornication rule as he had done with Nicholas Dawkins several years ago. For one of the binding strictures of apprenticeship was that one would not have sexual relationships, which grew very awkward when the boys reached a certain age, as John Rawlings knew from personal experience!

‘I hear that you and Mrs Fortune are going like hell-cats with sales of the water.’

Gideon blushed endearingly. ‘They are indeed very good, Sir.’

‘And tell me how the boys are shaping up. What about young Fred? Is he behaving himself?’

‘He hero-worships Robin and has announced that he too would like to be an apothecary if only his reading and writing skills were better.’

‘But surely they taught him those at the Foundling Hospital?’

‘I think it was pretty basic stuff, Sir. Apparently his reading is well ahead of his writing.’

‘Then we must give him some lessons. Everyone should be allowed to realize their potential.’

‘Please don’t look at me, Mr Rawlings. I am at full stretch with the shop and the business.’

‘No, I wouldn’t inflict that on you, Gideon. I’ll have to send the child to a teacher of some sort. And talking of the business, can you come and dine with me today? Mrs Fortune has called a meeting for this evening to discuss the bottles.’

‘Thank you, Sir. I knew about the meeting, of course.’

‘You and she are fairly close these days, I take it?’ John asked innocently.

‘Yes, we are. Very. Only in a professional sense, of course,’ Gideon added hastily.

‘Naturally. I wouldn’t have presumed anything else,’ the Apothecary answered, and went into the compounding room, grinning.

They dined formally later that day. John, for once clad all in black, sat soberly at the head of the table looking at the beautiful woman that Jacquetta was turning into and thinking to himself that Gideon Purle was obviously and hopelessly in love with her. She, on the other hand, kept her thoughts and emotions very much to herself. Quite a shuttered and secretive person, John concluded. As she grew in confidence so she became more a woman of mystery. The Apothecary found her totally intriguing.

No sooner was dinner finished than the subject of bottles was raised.

‘Just to put you in the picture, Mr Rawlings,’ Jacquetta said, ‘we were wondering what type of bottles should be used. We have so far been selling the water in containers which resembled those used for physick. This has the disadvantage of certain people thinking that they were literally taking their medicine.’

‘I favoured stone bottles,’ Gideon ventured. ‘But Mrs Fortune could not decide. That’s why we were waiting for your return.’

John paused. ‘Well, we need something unusual. Something which echoes the contents.’

There was silence during which everybody thought, then John continued, ‘Supposing we have two bottles; one stone and one glass. The stone being sold slightly cheaper.’

‘But what about style, Sir?’

Jacquetta spoke. ‘Why not have a square bottle with a slender neck rising from it, and the words “J. Rawlings, Nassau Street” etched on the front?’

‘And it should be green to match your eyes,’ said Gideon, then blushed so violently that he resembled nothing so much as a tomato.

John smiled and caught Jacquetta’s glance, which remained blank, though a slight twitch of her eyebrow told him that she was highly amused. ‘That, my dear Gideon, is a splendid idea,’ he answered, partly to save his apprentice’s discomfort. ‘Green bottles it is. Now what do you think of having stone bottles as well?’

‘A very good plan,’ said Jacquetta. ‘That means that the waters can be drunk by those not so well placed in society as others.’

‘Which includes the majority of the population,’ answered John, and so saying rose and poured three glasses of port from the decanter on a side table.

‘Here’s to the success of our enterprise,’ he said, then turned to Jacquetta. ‘And I would like to toast you, Mrs Fortune, for organizing the launch of the business so well. You truly are a woman of amazing skills.’

‘Hear, hear,’ muttered Gideon besottedly.

And this time Jacquetta smiled.

A week later and he was off, catching the same flying coach from the Gloucester Coffee House. But he, that most gregarious of people, spent most of the journey in moody silence, realizing that he must make some plan for the future. The arrival of the twins had sealed his fate, he could see that clearly. Somehow or other he must impress on Elizabeth the importance of making a firm decision about what lay ahead.